Still Smokin'

There was one thing I was not prepared for before we traveled; the constant cloud of cigarette smoke. I think statistics show that 50-75% of Chinese men smoke. I'm not one who is truly bothered by smoking, but after a few days the smell started to really bother me.

We had a non-smoking room throughout our stay, but when the people in the rooms around you are chain smoking, you might as well light up too. This really bothered me after we had gotten Anna. If smoking bothers you, I would ask for a room on a non-smoking floor. All of our hotels had one, and we did not know to ask until we got to Guangzhou. It made a huge difference in the way that we felt, smelled, etc.

If you have medical issues that are effected by smoking, come prepared! Bring your inhaler, allergy tabs, eye drops, etc. Depending on the day, the smog, mostly in Beijing, could be nasty as well, and you could really be uncomfortable.